THE SCOTTISH Braille Press is relocating to larger premises to accommodate additional staff after seeing revenues pass £3 million for the first time.

The company, which is one of the leading providers of accessible media in the UK, currently employs 86 people, and hopes to create 13 new jobs with the move – including more transcribers, data processors and digital specialists.

The move comes after the Press celebrated its 125 year anniversary in 2015.

Scottish Braille press manager, John Donaldson, said: “This is a very exciting time for the Scottish Braille Press, marking a significant new chapter in its history as a provider of accessible formats for visually impaired people.”

Mr Donaldson said that the move would bring a number of benefits. “We are squeaking at the seams in the current building so moving somewhere bigger allows us to expand, which means we are able to take on more work. And as it is a new building we are able to develop it to suit our processes. It’s also a more pleasant environment for the staff,” he said.

The business was founded in 1890 as a printing department of the Royal Blind School, in Craigmillar Park, to provide meaningful employment for its pupils.

It is a service operated by charity Royal Blind, the largest visual impairment organisation in Scotland, with any surplus at the end of its year going back to the charity to fund its work.

In 1953 the Scottish Braille Press moved to a purpose built facility, where it has remained,until this month, when Royal Blind purchased the City West building in Gorgie to accommodate the business’ expanding client-base and workforce.

Noting that the business has seen revenue grow from £1m in 2005, Mr Donaldson added: “In the past ten years we have helped more and more companies to meet the needs of their visually impaired customers by providing correspondence or documents in braille, audio and large print.

“Our output has now reached a point where we need a larger premises to facilitate the growth of our workforce,” he added.

He also confirmed that a team will be created to plan and co-ordinate the move without any disruption to the day to day activity of the Scottish Braille Press.

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